Rebecca Carrasco's Andy's Diary - The Final Day

The great thing about this show is that you get to see all of the work. With the exception of the early preliminary judging you see all categories, all the contenders and all the winners, across all mediums. So there's a real sense of balance to the way things are awarded. If a certain yardstick is used to measure integrated, film, or online, it's used to measure everything. Which is why this is one very difficult show to win. And that's not a bad thing.

What stands out is the work that finds a different solution to a real problem - well thought-through and well-executed. If it doesn't extend comfortably into a certain medium, don't enter that part; it could kill the whole entry. It doesn't have to be a Star Spangled Spectacular; it just has to be a great idea cleverly brought to life through the right channels. Or channel. Nothing wrong with one channel if that's all it takes to solve the problem in a new way.

As always, the work that will get awarded is the work that makes you think. And kick your dog. Despite the GFC, or perhaps because of it, there have been great problems met with inventive, clever solutions. I think you'll see that in this year's big winners. They're smart. They punch above their weight. And they make every dollar spent that much more valuable. A few things did get through that I wouldn't have picked, and a few pieces didn't make the cut that I felt deserved a run, but that's to be expected. That's why there are 25 judges, not one.

There was a lot of good debate: idea versus execution; new thinking or old thinking newly applied to advertising; innovative idea or just new technology; how much interactivity a good site requires; the importance of craft; marketing solutions versus ads; and effectiveness versus idea. Just to name a few. Any work that did make it through defended itself against every attack. So congratulations to the winners - great work, really well deserved. One thing you do feel when judging is the passion that goes into this award. The Board Members have a genuine interest in the quality of the work that bears the ANDY name. The Chairmen of Judges emphasize that you're not just awarding work; you're curators of a show. And the organizers put on a great week for the jury.

Last night ended with the launch of an art auction organized by the ANDYs to help fund the rebuilding of the Lower 9th Ward by the Make It Right Foundation. With the help of Shepard Fairey - one of the jurors - a collection of world-class artwork is now up for auction online to raise funds for the project. (See link below.)

Great group. Great week. Great work. Now for the 19-hour flight home.